Word Origin & History

dumb O.E. dumb "silent, unable to speak," from PIE *dheubh- "confusion, stupefaction, dizziness." O.E., Goth. (thumb) and O.N. (dumbr) forms meant only "mute, speechless;" in O.H.G. (thumb) it meant both this and "stupid," and in Mod.Ger. this latter became the only sense. Meaning "foolish, ignorant" was occasionally in English from early 14c., but modern use (1823) comes from influence of Ger. dumm. Related: dumber; dumbest. Applied to silent contrivances, hence dumbwaiter. To dumb down is from 1933.

Example Sentences for dumber

How did Dumber divine that the poker was unduly hot and black with soot underneath?

Th' funny part o' it is, th' dumber they air th' more they chatter.

No, oh, no; for then she would be deafer and dumber and blinder than she was before.

Dumber's face expressed such amazement and consternation that John nearly laughed in spite of himself.

"She's a lively one if she is a dumber," said Freckles approvingly.

Only in moments of intense excitement did Dumber misplace or leave out the aspirate.

Sa nagkadugay ka ning trabahúa nagkatuntu ka sab, The longer you are on this job, the dumber you get.

Nagkadugay ka ning trabahúa nagkaturpi sab ka, The longer you are on the job the dumber you act.

A little girl in school said yesterday that I was 'dreadful dumb, dumber than a goose.'